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Dian Kingdom Wikipedia

The Dian Kingdom was established by the Dian people, who lived around Lake Dian in eastern Yunnan, China from the late Spring and Autumn Period until the Eastern Han Dynasty. The Dian were first mentioned historically in Sima Qian's Shiji. They were subjugated by the Han Dynasty under the reign of Emperor Wu of Han in 109 BC. The Han Dynasty incorporated the territory of the Dian Kingdom into the Yizhou Commandery, but left the King of Dian as the local ruler.

The Dian buried their kings at Shizhaishan (discovered in 1954). The burials were identified by the inscription, King Dian's Seal. The inscription was written in seal script on a golden imperial seal given by the Han Emperor. Sima Qian noted that the Dian were one of only two local groups to have received an imperial seal, the other being Yelang.

Sima Qian recorded that the Dian people wore their hair in topknots, which is corroborated by archaeological finds. The Dian people dressed in tunics over short pants. They practiced agriculture, supplemented by hunting.

The Dian people Casting|cast bronze objects using both the piece mould method and the lost wax method. Large bronze drums were employed by the Dian to communicate in battle; ritual burials of Dian elites were accompanied by large bronze drums filled with cowrie shells.

The tops of the drums were removed and replaced by a bronze lid. The bronze lids were covered with miniature figurines and structures, depicting various scenes from the life of the Dian people. Many scenes depicted the Dian at war, riding horses and decapitating their enemies (who wore their hair in long plaits). The everyday life of the Dian people were also shown in hunting, farming and weaving scenes. Entertainment for the Dian included bullfighting, dancing and music-making.

Archaeologist in China recently discovered the inundated remains of a Dian city under Lake Fuxian; some archaeologist believe that the ruins are the remains of the capital of the Dian Kingdom.
An earthquake and subsequent flood killed the inhabitants and completely destroyed the city in 110.

At Dabona, a site connected with the Dian culture, archaeologists discovered a large double coffin burial; The outer coffin was made of wood and the inner coffin was made of bronze. The inner coffin was shaped like a house and weighs over 157 kg.

The Yunnan Provincial Museum holds many archaeological relics of the Dian culture.

Last Modified:   2005-11-04